Behavioral Health, Police Use of Force, and Officer Perceptions in Two Suburban Agencies

• In Event: New Findings from the Smart Policing Initiative #1

Abstract

Individuals with mental and behavioral health issues (BHI) who are in crisis encounter police in a variety of ways. These encounters are complex due to the range of factors, including mental illness, substance use, and cognitive/intellectual deficits, that can trigger unexpected behavior, and the variety of ways in which individuals may respond to stressors under these conditions. These challenges may also present risks—actual or perceived—to officer safety, increasing the likelihood that physical force may be used. But despite efforts to develop effective practices for de-escalation such as Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, there remains a lack of research on the nature of police encounters with individuals with BHI. This presentation explores these issues in two suburban agencies—Roanoke County, VA and Shoreline, WA—that are developing innovative responses to individuals with BHI as part of the Smart Policing Initiative. We examine the nature of calls for service involving BHI, officer perceptions of risk and safety, and the characteristics of BHI-related use of force incidents. We conclude with a discussion of the strategies these agencies are developing to improve their responses to individuals with BHI.

Authors

• Charlotte Gill, George Mason University

• Rachel Jensen, George Mason University

• Breanne Cave, Police Foundation

• Sue-Ming Yang, George Mason University

• Caitlin Kanewske, George Mason University